Shoe-cleaning device



Jan. 19,192@a M. J. SPERLING suoE CLEANING DEVICE ifi-led August 8, 1923 Jan. l9 1926.`

M. J. aPEPzL'uuGv suora QLEANING DEVICE Filed .August 8, 192:5 2 sheets-,sheet 2 Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

l, UNITED NSTA TES PATENT OFFICE, y

MAX J'. SPERLING, "0F CHIGIAGO, ,ILLINQIS suon-ernannte Damon.

'Application led August 8, 1923. Seria1`No.`\2656,402.

T0-all whom it may (lancera:

Be it known that I, MAX J. SrERLrNG, a citizen lof the United States, anda resident ofthe `city of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain f mew and -useful Improvements in a Shoe- Cleaning Device; and I do :hereby declare that the following -is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, lreference being had to fthe accompanying drawings, and to the rnumera-ls .of reference marked thereon, which forma part 1 of this specification.

This invention :relates -more particularly to :an Iimproved shoefcleaning stand adapted tobe rigidlysecured'to a lfloor in a position "to `permit ya shoe 1.when on a Vpersons foot to be inserted in a brush containing casing and moved `back :and forth therein whereby the brushes act to remove dust and dirt frolnthe shoe .to clean the same.

It isran objectof this invention to provide `a Shoe cleaning `device having adjustably mounted side brushes permitting shoes of different sizes `to be cleaned in the device.

YItis also an object ofthe inventlonto 'provide ar'shoe cleaner devicewherein allofthe brushesmay be readily removed for cleaning or replacement.

Anotherobj ecto'f the invention is the construction-of .1a-shoe cleaning standhaving removablebrushes therein certain of which are resiliently ,fheld rin position so that shoes of dierent sizes maybe cleaned.

It is an important object of this invention rto provide .a shoe `cleaning device of improved-.construction adaptable Vfor cleaning` shoes of different sizes and so made thatthe brush @members .may be `readily `assembled and removed ifoncleaning or :replacement when necessary.

@ther andfurther Aimportant objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawings.

The invention (ina preferred "formi is illustrated 1in the drawings and `hereinafter more ffully described. s

On the drawings:

Figure il tis a top plan view of a shoe cleaning device enibodying'the principles of this finvention. i w

omitted.

Figure 8 is a detail `view taken on line i 858 ,of Figure 6 `with the casing parts omitte As shownon the drawings:

The reference numeral l indicates a base frame curved `at lone end and straight at the 'other end. Rigidly `secured on the ibase frame 1 are casingside walls 2 which are integrally yconnected by a curved end wall 3. The 4base frame is `supported on fianged or double angle legs 4 which are adapted to be rigidly secured to the :loorxto ihold :the 1device in a rigidposition foruse. `Positioned within the shoe cleaning casing 4formed bl the walls 2 and 3 kis a :baseor bottom fbrus compnisinga iback board 5 `having a plurality of sets of upwardly directed :brush bris-` tles 6 supported thereon. The base brush rests fonthe base frame 1 against the `curved back 17 of=an end or tip brush `provided with sets iofbristles "8 of different lengths positioned to afford .a shoe tip or toecreceiving recess 9. 1 i

' Theinner side of each casing .wall 42 .is provided iwitha long recess l0. Rigidlysecured =by ineens of staples :lil to the inner side of each sidewall 2 areltheouter endsof aipluralityof coiled V:springs l2. The inner endsiofithe coiled springs 1.12 are Aattached :to

asslidahle metal plate 113zby means of retaining 'bars 14 f'(Eigure Positioned VWithin thefca-singfagainstfeach spring impelled `plate 13 is a side brush back Y14" provided with sets of "bristles 115. Theside brush bristles 1,5 fare of'diitferent lengths to .afford an irregular brushing surface adapted to engage the sides and the solesofshoes. fReInovably" secured by means of screws 16 tothe upper edge of each casing side `Wa'llfQ is a- `casing top board 17, the inner edge of which has an integral rib or stop flange 1S formed thereon against which the side brush back 14 is adapted to be resiliently held by the action of the. springs 12.

The casing also comprises an end top plate 19 -which is removably secured to the top edge of the curved casing end wall 3 and abuis against the ends ot the top boards 17. Integrally formed on the top plate 19 is an arched top brush back 2O and depending lugs 20 integral therewith havingr sets of brush bristles 21 secured on the inner surface thereof. The top brush bristles 21 are of different lengths and are arranged to afford recess or pocket 22 which registers with the tip recess 9 formed by the bristles 8. The registering recesses 9 and 22 are shaped to receive the tip and fore part of a shoe to be cleaned by the bristles 8 and 21. The bristles 15 or' the side brushes serve to clean the sides of the shoe, while the bristles G of the bottom brush act on the sole of the shoe to clean the same.

To hold the variou.r brushes in place within the casing a U-shaped end plate 23 is removably secured to the open end or' the casing by means of headed nails or screws 24C. The heads ol the nails 2l at the sides of the casing are adapted to be engaged through the enlarged portions of inverted key slots 25 (Figure 2), while the nail 24- at the lower central portion of the casing is projected through a slot 2G. The end plate 23 is thus adapted to be readily placed in position on the end of the casing or removed therefrom.

The operation is very simple. In order to clean a shoe worn by a person it is only necessary to push the shoe into the open end of the brush casing and then move the shoe baci: and forth so that the bristles of the various brushes will act to clean the shoe at the bottom, sides, vamp and tip. The opening in the top of the casing between the top plates 17 permits the leg of a person to project into the casing and to be moved back and forth to bring the shoe into contact with the various cleaning brushes.

Normally the coiled springs 1Q serve to resiliently hold the side brushes projected toward one another with the brush backs engaged against the stop flanges 18 (Figure 2) The side brushes being movably mounted in place permit shoes of different width to be cleaned. In case the brushes need cleaning the end plate 23 is slightly lifted and then removed from engagement with the nails 24. The side brushes and the bottom brush may then be pulled out of the open end of the casing. 'When the side brushes are removed the springs 12 act to move the metal plates 13 against the stop anges 18. The brushes 7 and 2O may be removed for cleaning by removing the top Vlate 19 on which the top brush 2O is forme While bristle brushes have been illustrated and described for use in the shoe cleaning casing, it is to be understood that some or all or' the bristle brushes may be re placed by felt brushes it' desired.

I am aware that numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A shoe cleaning device comprising a casing having an opening in one end and in the top, means on said casing for supporting the same, a tip brush and a top brush in said ci sing, a bottom brush and side brushes also mounted in the casing, and an end plate removably engaged on the open end of the casing tor holding the bottom brush and the side brushes in place within the casing against longitudinal removal.

if. A shoe cleaning device comprising a casing open at the top and at one end, a tip brush in the closed end ot the casing, a top plate closing the top ot' the closed end of the casing, a brush termed on said top plate and projecting into the casing, a bottom brush resting on the floor of the casing, side brushes in said casing resting on the bottom brush, spaced top boards secured on the top ol the casing for holding the side brushes in place, and an end plate having an opening therein removably secured to the open end of the casing for holding the bottom brush and the side brushes in place against longitudinal removal from the casing.

3. A shoe cleaning device comprising a casing having openings therein, a tip brush in one end of the casing, a top brush on the casing, a bottom brush disposed on the floor or' the casing, side brushes in the casing, spaced top plates secured on the casing, stop flanges formed thereon, and resilient means between said side brushes and the side Walls ot the casing adapted to resiliently hold the side brushes in engagement with said stop flanges.

il. A shoe cleaning device comprising a casing having openings therein, a tip brush in said casing, a top brush projecting into the casing, a bottom brush seated on the 'licor ot the casing. side brushes in the casing, spaced top plates secured on the top of the casing to partially close the same, stop tlanges formed on said top plates, plates` slidably disposed between the side `brushes and the side walls of the casing, and springs attached to said slidable plates and to the casing side walls to cause the slidable plates to act on the side brushes and hold the saine against the stop flanges.

A shoe cleaning device comprising a casing, and a plurality of brushes lining the casing with the brush bristles projecting in casing,

different directions and of different lengths to afford a shoe receiving recess substantially of the shape of, and enveloping, the entire tip of the shoe to be cleaned.

6. A shoe cleaning device comprisin a shoe cleaning brushes movaly mounted therein adapted to be moved When a shoe is inserted in the casing to be cleaned, spaced top plates secured to the top edges of lf the easing and having stop members thereon,

and means in the casing for resiliently mov#A resilient Contact With the stop members whereby said brushes Will be forcedfn- Wardly and resiliently engage a shoe placed therebetween. p

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MAX J. SPERLING. 

